The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, has asked the federal government to respect the order of the court and release the leader of the Shiite Islamic sect, also known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zazaky, from detention.
Lamenting what he described as a worsening security situation in the country in the last five years, Onaiyekan said the government's refusal to admit the horrible state of affairs and to take genuine actions to address it have worsened things.
The septuagenarian, who expressed fear over the present state of insecurity in the country, also regretted the waning confidence and trust people have on the present leadership.
Onaiyekan, who addressed a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his priesthood, said that the best way to address any infraction of the law committed by members of the religious group is to prosecute such persons following the due process of law and not to apply extra judicial methods.
According to the clergyman, the federal government has a moral burden to work towards restoring public trust and confidence without which no appreciable progress in governance can be made.
Speaking on the issue of alleged proscription of IMN over their recent protests in Abuja, Onaiyekan said that the federal government's handling of the issue fell short of expectations and is causing embarrassment to the country.
" I am not a Muslim but If I was a Muslim, I will also fight for the freedom of every Muslim because freedom of religion is not just freedom.between two religions, there is also freedom within religions.
"If the Shiites are protesting they have told us clearly why they are doing so. The fact that I have not joined them in the protest does not mean that I don't believe that they have the right to protest.
Their leader has been under detention against court orders, ordering that he be released; a court order that we have been told very bluntly that has been rejected by the executive. "I don't know what would have happened if it was detained unjustly or even for any reason and the court orders my release and they refuse to allow it, I don't know if anyone will be able to stop the Catholics from protesting," he said.
Onaiyekan noted that if a religious group goes against the laws of the land, such a group should be held accountable but that the process must be in line with the provisions of the law.
"I heard about it on my way out of the country and I said I can't believe it; that it is not true. The proscription of a religious group is certainly not in our character in Nigeria. I am happy to hear government making some statements somewhere, saying 'no we have not proscribed the religious group', that they are only proscribing trouble makers.
"Why I am happy is that I feel that some people in government have realised that it is not good news to tell the whole world that our government has proscribed a religious organisation. I like to see that statement as a step to backtrack. Government has an allergy to accepting that it has made an error.
"So, when they make a stupid mistake instead of agreeing that they have made a mistake, they look for ways and means of crawling back.
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